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Petition Seeks City Outdoor Recreation Area for Bikers and Skaters

March 5, 2013

by:

Dwayne Page

Should the City of Smithville create an outdoor recreation area for youth to ride bikes and skate?

Will and Martha Puckett came before the Smithville Mayor and Aldermen Monday night with a petition signed by more than 200 people seeking such a place. "I would like to present the idea of an outdoor recreation area for the City of Smithville," said Will Puckett. " We would like an outdoor area to ride bicycles and a place to skate. We got over 200 signatures in less than 24 hours," he said.

Many places in the city are off limits to bikers and skaters, such as the downtown area and at Greenbrook Park and its too dangerous in the streets. " Last Saturday, an event happened. Me and one of my good friends were skating on a road and a car actually swerved and almost hit me," said Will Puckett..

Martha Puckett said grant funding could be available through Walmart. "You can apply for the grants online at Walmart.com, I used to work for Walmart and for community grants, they offer up to $20,000 depending on what its for," said Martha Puckett. " And if money is an issue, we can do fundraisers. Walmart will let us set up a fundraiser outside of the store," she said.

"We want a place where they (youth) can play basketball outside. Where you can skate or ride bicycles, roller blade or anything like that," said Martha Puckett. "We're not allowed to do that at the park. People have told me they want their children to have a place to go out and have fun and there's not that many places to do that," she said.

Alderman Gayla Hendrix urged the Puckett's to apply for the grant."We have, as a board been discussing applying for grants for other recreational facilities for the city so that would be a really good start. If you could start, we could brainstorm ideas for places," she said.

"I would encourage you to get on line and go for it. We'll try to come up with some (city) property somewhere," said Mayor Jimmy Poss.